As I was writing everything begun to sound very familiar, then I realized I’d essentially said much of what needed to be aired out here in a post at the end of last season. Time irrelevant:

I’ve had more doubts than I’ll ever let on. Tactically never a question, but the way this team operates sometime really brings to question his ability to extract the right mentality from this team, the first and foremost quality for any great coach, teacher, leader, etc. in any aspect of life. His football mind is top of the mountain, maybe a bit higher, but otherwise, I can’t honestly say I’m sure he’s a coach that can lead a team to greatness. That overwhelming sense to will themselves to a win. To defeat regardless of tactics, blow up the gameplan and just win.

What I am confident of is that Spalletti as a coach, much like the team, is still absorbing, growing and progressing. This is also a learning process for him, and sometimes I, perhaps others, forget that. He is by no means a finished product, and is in some ways representative of the team. Heralded for his workings in Udine, but not yet considered world class. Experienced, but not experienced enough on the largest stage. His rise has coincided with the rise of Roma. After all, he’s just 49, still but a pup in the world of big game coaching.

My feeling is next year is it in terms of assessing Spalletti’s impact on this team. If they can grow mentally, I will fully believe and plan four plus children just so that I can spell out The Grand Imperial Poobah on Christmas cards. (I’ll feel might bad for “The”, but he/she will have to deal with it.) I do think they will grow mentally, and that’s not more hope than belief. I do believe that. Spalletti and the core has more experience now, more failures and successes to guide them in the right direction. This will be invaluable, and in the end I believe Spalletti will be invaluable. The journey continues.

Change? None. If anything, matters have gotten worse. The late game collapses and high pressure meltdowns have not ceased, they’ve snowballed. The late game collapses are now post-first goal collapses and the “high pressure situations” have gone from European ties at Old Trafford to hosting Reggina – I’m not quite sure, aside from magical bankruptcy, there’s any more drastic a dive than that. Which brings about this:

I do think they will grow mentally, and that’s not more hope than belief. I do believe that.

Revert back to hope now. We can hope that this little bump in the road is truly a product of all the injuries and disruptions popping up daily, not to mention the turmoil of the last few months. Maybe this tough start will strengthen the team for the long run and prove to be a boon, rather than a burden. But at this point I just hope to return to “thinking they will grow mentally”, much less doing so.

Obviously Spalletti is a masterful tactician, but there is still something missing away from the technical side, away from the squad list and away from anything else you’d care to read about the mercato or ownership. It’s their confidence over 90 minutes. Could it be the key to get this team to the next plateau? I think so. They don’t have the mentality of a winner. They seem to be confident they’re better than their opponents – with one obvious exception – but not confident enough in the win, which is far more important. That’s instilled by the coach, either directly or indirectly. Not here. Something which we hope, again, will come with time.

Can Spal fix this crisis? Believe so. After all, this is hardly comparable to the crisis he walked into. This is a Sunday walk in the park. But can he fix the faults which have plagued Roma for the last few years? Hasn’t shown any indication just yet. Then again, there’s nothing to say they can’t succeed without actually those faults. This isn’t permanent. This is an era, and plenty of successful eras have gone on with things tucked neatly away in the back of the closet. But it would probably be a whole lot easier if they could adopt the persona of a complete team.

Now there are rumblings, however accurate they may be, that TGIP has “lost the locker room”, which leaves us just as lost. His words to the press always seem appropriate, which would lead you to believe the same were true for his words behind closed doors. However, at least two spats with players have leaked out into the open in less than a year would have you thinking otherwise. So which is it? Is he the bright, witty, respectful, modest coach behind closed doors? Is he someone else entirely? You won’t find that out from the players, so it’s impossible to find out anywhere else. After all, the locker room is the athlete’s sanctuary. We’ll just have know nothing and move on. Right now, as rumors might lead one to believe, there’s no telling if Spalletti has lost, or even divided, the locker room. Once again, we can just hope it’s a bump in the road and nothing more.

If it isn’t, where does that leave Roma? Watching Milan very intently, that’s where. Not because of who Spalletti and Ancelotti are as coaches, but because of who they are as people and what they’ve accomplished with their current clubs. Both have undoubtedly taken the club they inherited and progressed appropriately. If nothing changes, we could just say Spalletti’s tenure in Rome has run its course, as appears is the same case with Ancelotti in Milan, and that both clubs simply need a fresh change. Nothing to do with formations, tactical rigidity, personnel or anything of the like. It’s just a crisp breath of air with a quality coach who will fight for his new club. Spalletti because it’s a fresh challeneg; a club with a great trophy cabinet whose traditions must be respected and continued. Ancelotti because of the progress and growth Roma has shown, as well as the special bond he shares with both this club and this city. That’s all. Sometimes it’s not as complicated as it may seem. Sometimes it’s just about change.

As far as Saturday goes, just win. Not so hard, is it? And as far as Spalletti goes…something tells me we’ll be seeing him patrolling the sidelines to kick off 09-10. In Milan.

In case you haven’t noticed – or have the intellectual capabilities of bird shit – I hate Inter. HATE Inter. I hate Moratti. I hate Mancini. I hate Zanetti. I hate Figo. I hate Stankovic. I hate Cambiasso. I hate Vieira. I hate blue. I hate black. I hate Pirelli. I hate the San Siro. I fucking hate Inter. I have since well before I became a Roma fan. I hated them well before Chivugate. I hated them well before those two asterisked trophies for Calcio Honesty. I hate them. I hate them. I hate them.

Wow, “Calcio Honesty” and “Inter” in the same paragraph. Who knew?

So what do you think this year has done for my feelings towards Inter? Butterflies and cupcakes and unicorns, right?

This game isn’t so much about the Coppa Italia as it is about Inter, because I honestly feel like they have more to lose from this than Roma. If Inter wins…great. We’ll still spend every two days in the summer hearing about the occasional crutch they were handed, along with quotes from intelligent footballing minds saying Roma was the better team. An Inter win here proves little.

But if Roma wins, it adds more ammo to the theory that Roma is the best team in calcio. Both teams have injuries which are essentially a wash (Cambiasso plus Zlatan almost equals the loss of Totti), so that’s out the window. Both teams have Brazilian goalkeepers, and neither one is Dida, which is a wash. Both teams will have a banged up back line, so that’s a wash. Basically the only thing which isn’t a wash is the brainpower patrolling the sidelines and the payrolls.

The great trump card here is obviously Spalletti. For all the trillions of lira Moratti has spent, he still has a meathead on the sidelines, whereas Roma has a top drawer mind at the chalkboard; and he’s had a week to get ready for a team which rarely throws a tactical surprise at you – at home no less. If it comes down to bringing 15m striker after 15m striker off the bench or having Spalletti? No contest. The Grand Imperial Poobah twelve days a week.

The one thing I hope Spalletti instills into the team is that this isn’t be about revenge, it should be about Roma proving itself to be the better team. Emotion in front of the crowd will be fantastic, no doubt, but if they stick to tactics and keep a collective cool, Roma will have to say no words, the play will speak for itself. (I won’t begrudge Mexes or DDR a fiery moment or two, however.) And really, that’s all that Roma needs to show. Just play as Roma can play and it will be a great day.

And win or lose, I think we all need to enjoy this one. Three months without Roma is a mighty long time.

Squads

Roma:

Antunes Gabriel
Aquilani Alberto
Bertagnoli J. Sergio
Brighi Matteo
Cassetti Marco
Cicinho
Curci Gianluca
De Rossi Daniele
Doni
Esposito Mauro
Juan
Giuly Ludovic
Mancini Alessandro
Mexes Philippe
Panucci Christian
Perrotta Simone
Pizarro David
Tonetto Max
Vucinic Mirko

Inter:

Goalkeepers: 1 Francesco Toldo, 12 Julio Cesar, 22 Paolo Orlandoni.

Defenders: 4 Javier Zanetti, 6 Maxwell, 13 Maicon, 16 Nicolas Burdisso, 26 Cristian Chivu, 40 Ivan Fatic, 47 Marco Filippini.

Midfielders: 5 Dejan Stankovic, 11 Luis Jimenez, 14 Patrick Vieira, 21 Santiago Solari, 28 Maniche, 30 Pelé, 31 Cesar.

Strikers: 18 Hernan Crespo, 29 David Suazo, 45 Mario Balotelli.

* – Much thanks to Ezio and Lorenzo for the pic. Great Romanisti think alike.

Key Injuries

Roma: Taddei, The Fiat (Ferrari) & that Totti guy.

Inter: Cruz & Macellazzi* are suspended (absolute shocker there), while Cambiasso & Zlatan are out injured.

* – Thanks to Chico for bringing that one back.

Probably XI

Doni;
Cicinho, Mexes, Juan, Tonetto;
DDR, Pizarro;
Mancini, Aquilani, Perrotta;
Vucinic.

Really doubt we see anything else aside from some rotation on the right flank.

Matchups

Roberto Mancini v A Down Syndrome Baboon: Let’s face it, the guy isn’t even close to the same league as Giancarlo Camolese, much less Luciano Spalletti. So comparing the two would be both unfair and imprudent. A down syndrome baboon at least gives Mancio a chance – albeit a very slight one.

And may I just say….Grazie Moratti. Keeping Mancio on is the best thing you could’ve done for the other 19 teams in Serie A. There’s a fetus somewhere drawing up better schemes in his mother’s womb than Minchia could diagram on his best day.

Zlatan’s Wandering Protrusion v The Ghost of Esteban Cambiasso’s Receding Hairline: Their two best players are out? Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

Really, that leaves just one person to worry about without question, and that’s Julio Ceasar. (And by without question, I mean someone consistently fantastic over a lengthy stretch for all you Balotelli nuthuggers in the crowd.)

Of course, maybe Mancio will hit his head and insert Toldo into the lineup. Mmmmm, Toldo back between the sticks in Rome. Good times. Good times.

But seriously, Inter is two vastly different teams with and without Zlatan. The fact that he isn’t even on the bench is a very good thing for Roma.

Roma v Chivu: Speaking of leaky sieves, it’s a big game and Cristian Chivu will be in the house. If he plays it’s 12 v 10. And then pray the other inevitability, an injury, doesn’t happen til the 90th minute or so.

Roma v The Ref: So is Morganti on the payroll or what? Do you think bookies have closed the odds on an Inter penalty after the 70th minute? Perhaps a Mexes red has already been lined up again.

Let’s at least hope Lega Calcio ends the season with a sliver of credibility. After this season, they could use it.

Pride v Players In Their Last Game For The Shirt: With it being the very last game of the season – and thankfully with the Euros this will feel like a short summer – it’s inevitable a few players will be swapping giallorosso for the last time. The only guy I think we can absolutely agree is gone is Mauro Esposito. No tears shed there, but I think he deserves a helluva round of applause for staying exceptionally professional this season. Let’s face it, he could’ve gone to Napoli and been a hero for the hometown side, only to take a chance at Champions League footy with Roma. Spal said it a few weeks ago: day in, day out he comes and works his ass off without complaint for the betterment of the team and The Poobah can’t help but feel for him, the squad is just simply “closed”. Many guys with the potential for a national team call up would’ve been bitching and moaning to the press long ago; so really, he deserves a lot more for his contributions (or lack thereof) off the pitch than perhaps is given. Grazie Espo, and let’s hope he bounces back next year, wherever he lands. It’s never regretful to see classy, gifted guys shine.

As for the other guys, Matteo Ferrari seems likely, but he’s not playing. Ludovic Giuly is potentially gone, and it remains to be seen how much time he’ll see – more likely than not it’ll depend on the scoreline in the second half. Pizarro, Vucinic & Aquilani? You’d need to have a world class argument to convince me any of that trio will be in anything but giallorosso next year. Brighi is a possibility, but that’s also unlikely – Spal seems to really appreciate his contributions.

Then there’s Mancini. I think everyone and their mother thinks he’ll be elsewhere in the summer, but there’s really no way to tell right yet. What we need from him is anything but an egg, really. Anything more than that and I’ll be happy to give him a standing O at the end of the game. And perhaps if he plays like it’s his last game in the shirt, it may turn out not to be.

Let’s hope Mancini plays this one with his heart. We all know there are only a handful on the planet who can match him when he does and I’d love nothing more than to go into the summer knowing that he will either go out on his shield or have a little bit more to give to the cause than we thought. Forza Amantino.

The Romans

It’s in your city, in front of your team and this one is in your hands. Take this one for Totti.

Previous Games

Unless Ludovicious turns into a wide receiver going over the middle again, I think we can throw out the loss in September. Inter is just too strong a team, especially when Zlatan is in form, to go down a man against and have a true result come out. It was always downhill from there.

The SuperCoppa was so long ago it’s hard to recall what actually went down. De Rossi and Aquilani absolutely bossed the midfield and Totti was able to work his magic along with finding himself on the right end of a typical Burdisso tackle. It was still a preseason affair with many players out via injury, so a game at the end of August is not one to provide a blueprint for a game at the end of May with vastly different lineups.

As for the game at the San Siro in February, well, let’s just say if Rosetti (twas him, correct?) could discern a dive from a foul we’d be talking about a deserved three points. Pretty bullshit ending to the game, really; but that’s par for the course when going up against the Nerazzurri, so clearly Roma was at fault. They should’ve had a 3-4 goal cushion going into the late stages to rightfully squeak out with the three points. You’ve got to know these things going in.

(Sadly, only half of that is laced with sarcasm. It’s almost true.)

What does all this mean for the upcoming game? Only that an even strength Roma has proven to be a better team than Inter. (2-1 on aggregate, if you’d like to get technical.) I hope we’ll see much of the same.

Roma v Inter in Coppa

Predictions

Roma shows everyone who the best team in Italia really is.

Score: 2-0 Roma
Goals: Vucinic (12), Mancini (22)
MOTM: Mancini

When: 2030 CET, 1430 EST
Where: Stadio Olimpico
Forecast: Cloudy, 20°C.

Streaming: Here.

FORZA ROMA

I hate the fact that they quit, but having put in 10+ months of excruciating work and having the season won the way it was, nearly all of you would’ve done the same. There is nothing more frustrating than having your ultimate fate decided, and decided unfavorably, by someone else. I hated the last 15 minutes of the ManU first leg infinitely more than I’ll ever hate the last 20+ against Catania.

Not the finest hour, but it was about more than just Roma v Catania. Circumstances.

On Brazilians: After the Champions League run had effectively ended, I believed the only way forward was to show two tantalizingly talented, wildly inconsistent Brazilians to be shown the exit door. A couple weeks ago rumors arose saying that Roma was interested in a Doni replacement and a highly gifted vice-Doni, and at the time I wouldn’t change my tune regarding the intellectually comatose Brazilian netminder. Last week Doni signed a four year extension, putting my cardiologist on call during weekends and occasionally midweek until at least 2012, and putting me on the lookout for a psychologist to talk through his performances with on Mondays. Safe to say I wasn’t thrilled.

I’m ready to change my tune. Sort of. Now only one tantalizingly talented, wildly inconsistent Brazilian needs to be shown the door. I can’t in good consciousness say that Doni is the keeper of the present and future, and that i lupi can reach the promised land between now and 2012 with Alex in between the sticks. His reflexes are fantastic and his skill is evident. It’s the lapses in concentration which can turn fortune into despair in the blink of an eye. All it takes is one game. One half. One shot. One set piece. One Livorno. (I still…just…god.)

Undoubtedly he’s made strides in knocking on the door of “world class” this year. Actually, he’s been flat out majestic at times. There are days when I wouldn’t trade him for Gigi Buffon & Lev Yashin’s lovechild. There are also days when I’d trade him for half of half of Pietro Pipolo & Carlo Zotti’s unloved bastard.

For now, he’s won me over. I’ll live contently with Doni as Roma’s starting keeper for 2008-09, and truly believe that if he takes another stride of the length that he did this year, he’ll be a world class keeper. However, if he reverts back to Old/Bad Doni, it’ll be time to blow it up. I still pray nightly that Gianluca Curci comes to fulfill 50% of the hype and turns out to be a good, solid worthy Serie A keeper who won’t cause me heart ailments and/or death. Thus I reserve the right to change course once Curci actually wanders out on loan and Doni has another full season of growth underneath his belt.

As far as Mancini goes, the day we see the back of him cannot come too soon. His performance was abysmal yesterday and, unfortunately, that’s become par for the course. The way I see it, we’ve had two Brazilian wingers this season out of form. Their origins are probably different – Mancini was hurt before the year, but this doesn’t appear to be a valid excuse, while Taddei has gone down a few times now and appears to be suffering from an injury-plagued year – but their contributions have been vastly different. When Taddei’s technique and skill fails him, as it has during stretches and understandably so, he makes up for it with his workrate, tenacity and will. When Mancini’s technique and skill fail him, not exactly a rare occurrence, Mancini accentuates it by dropping a figurative turd on the field. Roma might as well be handed a red card, because it’s X v XI.

I find it hard to believe which such big money floating around Mancini will be in red & yellow Kappa next season. His backside walking out of Trigoria for good this summer seems to be a matter of when, not if. And, depending on whether or not he loves Roma just as much as he says he does, it’ll probably be for a cut rate price. So we thank you, Andy Webster, for completely screwing up the sport for your selfish wants, you useless prick.

And Grazie Mancini, there were certainly some great times, but some things just run their course.

On De Rossi: 100% correct to say what he said, and I find it downright laughable anyone, especially Inter fans, whose team is being coached by the most classless man in calcio with some players equally devoid of class, would say otherwise. This has nothing to do with class or grace or anything of the type. Actually, scratch that. It does. I don’t want anyone with class or grace in defeat anywhere near my team. It’s all a bunch of bullshit.

“Show me a good and gracious loser and I’ll show you a failure.”

-Knute Rockne

Truer than true. This isn’t a fucking bake sale, Sally.

Also, Daniele’s right, which helps the argument.

On Mexes: In the most heated, most important game of the year, I think he was the calmest person on the pitch. My eyes must have been fooling me. The man is more Roman than half of Rome (the baby blue half). Couldn’t be.

On Brighi & Aquilani: There was a little question at the end of an interview yesterday with The Poobah on the contributions of Vucinic, and he quickly answered but made a point to mention the contributions of two others: Brighi & Aquilani. Matteo coming in after so many years on loan and becoming something of a defensively-inclined Simone and late game specialist. His workrate and grinding play is a huge boon late in games and allows Roma to close out when the legs are tired and in need of a crutch. Wouldn’t say he’s indispensable, but perhaps his contributions are underappreciated, much like that Simone guy. And who the hell knows, maybe one year in the system and next year we’ll see him fulfill that massive hype (and transfer fee) which came after he was named Serie A Young Player of the Year.

As for Aquilani, Spal mentioned the difference of healthy Aquilani in the lineup. The loss of Taddei obviosly forced a shift in the lineup, Simone over to the wing and KA up top, a position he’s less familiar with in the Spalletti system. I think we all see – along with Real, Barca, Juve, Inter, Arsenal, Chelsea, ManU, etc. etc. etc. – the insane qualities he possesses and that his future is mighty bright. An untouchable key piece of the puzzle, another year of maturation and, hopefully, major tournament experience, will do nothing to add to the experience and core of the Giallorossi next season. My heart always sides with the present, but my mind has always said 2008-09. One more year for Daniele De Rossi, now the best midfielder in Serie A, and one more year for Aquilani, a phenom oozing with technical qualities, means great things for the Roman midfield, and the whole of Rome, in 08-09.

* – And he’s not going anywhere. End of.

On Vucinic: I’m sorry I ever said comparing him to Zlatan was a bit exaggerated. It’s not. Vuci is just that good, and has proven himself to be a world class player. I have a hard time saying a guy who’s scored 19 games in a season before just had a “breakout year”, but he at least broke through to another universe. His goal-to-big game ratio is simply something to behold, and the fact that he creates just as much for his teammates as he does for himself leads us to believe there’s much more on the horizon when he and Totti get more familiar with each other as on-the-pitch colleagues as opposed to Jesus and backup striker waiting for Jesus to go down. That left wing is his, and we hope for many, many years.

As far as the negotiations with Lecce go, he will be in Rome next season and that is that. As high as his price may have soared, they can’t afford not to buy him; after all the work they’ve put in developing him to sync with the system and the subsequent time they’d need to spend on a lesser replacement to fill his massive, yellow shoes it’d be simply foolish. This is as good as gold for the summer, because he’s not a new buy who will need an assimilation period. Mirko is a break-the-glass, ready-to-use world class player for a unique system. Those are absolutely priceless and extraordinarily rare. The hierarchy will pay whatever, though I doubt it’ll be a ton. More likely we’ll see some fringe Giallorossi heading south for either a new Serie A struggle or a renewed promotion campaign down in B. One of the benefits of a world class youth system. Sometimes it isn’t all about the money.

But regardless of what happens this summer, Grazie Mirko. There are only a handful of people on the planet who could make a sans-Totti Roma squad continue along the road of calcio so smoothly. Daniele De Rossi was easily the most important part of the equation this season, but Vucigol wasn’t far behind. And can we all agree? He’s got It. Whatever the hell It is, he’s got it. You don’t show up in that many important games with that much quality without it.

Now if he’d kindly bag a triple in the Coppa final I’ll name my first born Francesco De Aquivucigol.

* – My thoughts are, joining Mexes and Taddei, he’ll become the next non-Italian Romanista. Like Philou, the man was born for this shirt.

On Zlatan: I can separate my in-season self with my out-of-season self quite well, which will allow me to appreciate Ibra for the month of June during the Euros. Whether or not the game was reffed unfairly yesterday was only irrelevant in the sense that he walked onto the pitch after a lengthy layoff and pushed that team over the hump when they were heading towards second place. And we all know how absurd he was during the first half of the year when Inter was so dominant. Starting in 03-04, when with Ajax, through this year he has ended the season with a title. The guy is a walking, talking championship. Pray he gets sold to Real or Chelsea this summer. Whatever credit Inter deserves goes to him.

On Totti: Soon enough, Francesco. Soon enough that trophy will be yours.

On Luciano: I’ve had more doubts than I’ll ever let on. Tactically never a question, but the way this team operates sometime really brings to question his ability to extract the right mentality from this team, the first and foremost quality for any great coach, teacher, leader, etc. in any aspect of life. His football mind is top of the mountain, maybe a bit higher, but otherwise, I can’t honestly say I’m sure he’s a coach that can lead a team to greatness. That overwhelming sense to will themselves to a win. To defeat regardless of tactics, blow up the gameplan and just win.

What I am confident of is that Spalletti as a coach, much like the team, is still absorbing, growing and progressing. This is also a learning process for him, and sometimes I, perhaps others, forget that. He is by no means a finished product, and is in some ways representative of the team. Heralded for his workings in Udine, but not yet considered world class. Experienced, but not experienced enough on the largest stage. His rise has coincided with the rise of Roma. After all, he’s just 49, still but a pup in the world of big game coaching.

My feeling is next year is it in terms of assessing Spalletti’s impact on this team. If they can grow mentally, I will fully believe and plan four plus children just so that I can spell out The Grand Imperial Poobah on Christmas cards. (I’ll feel might bad for “The”, but he/she will have to deal with it.) I do think they will grow mentally, and that’s not more hope than belief. I do believe that. Spalletti and the core has more experience now, more failures and successes to guide them in the right direction. This will be invaluable, and in the end I believe Spalletti will be invaluable. The journey continues.

On Serie A 2007-08: I can’t really do a proper assessment on the whole season until next week, and I do want to break down the season a lot more in-depth, but I figure there are a few things to be said.

It was a very good, borderline great season. 82 points in a difficult competition – Parma was in the UEFA Cup last year, Empoli this year….and they both got relegated, that says something – is nothing, absolutely nothing, for the boys to hang their heads about. Internazionale FC +1 has what was once called by then Chelsea-gaffer The Not So Special One “the biggest squad in the world”. From top to bottom they are a payroll. Period. End of. And when the coach of @#$%in’ Chelsea says that, it shows the the true depth of that team up north.

Roma is not that team. On paper, they have absolutely no business competing with a half-billion dollar team. And they did, right down to the final weekend, in a campaign marred by injury after injury after injury. When Inter lost Cordoba, Samuel and Materazzi, they simply plugged in Rivas and Chivu, two big money signings. When Roma needed an extra defender, they were forced to plug in two 30+ right backs. Roma has nowhere near the roster Inter does. On paper, the scudetto should have been handed out in August.

But what they did do was play better, and anyone not in bed with the Nerazzurri will agree. Inter was extraordinarily fortunate, if that’s what you want to call it, to get the results that they did. Roma was rarely, if ever, so fortunate. Nor were any other teams. Read into that how you will.

I’m not sure people understand how many injuries this team endured with a squad which is still fairly thin in certain spots. Juan, Taddei, Perrotta, Aquilani and Jesus, all key members of the first team, went down on more than one occasion and missed significant time. Matteo Ferrari, Juan and the Pizaman all had a late start to the season which didn’t help matters – especially not the first two, who couldn’t get healthy the entire year. Marco Cassetti, arguably the best RB in the peninsula during the first half of the year (yes, I said that, and it’s hard to argue with it – he was fricken’ fantastic and oh so underappreciated), went down more than once in the second half and lost his stride. Marco Andreolli never saw a minute in the shirt, forcing a 35 year old full back to play in central defense much of the year. This was far from a full team at any point in the season.

What I don’t buy is that Roma botched it will the small teams. When competing seriously on three fronts, you’re bound to drop some games you should win. Every team does it. Every champion does it. Real Madrid lost to Espanyol, Almeria, Real Betis and Getafe, while they drew with Murcia, Valladolid and Zaragoza. That sounds about the same as draws with Livorno (twice – they’re the bogey team), Empoli, Torino, Catania and Cagliari while losing to Siena. Actually, sounds awfully similar.

The difference is I don’t think Roma has the versatility in tactics or squad to break down lower-end table teams who park themselves in the back with a goalkeeper having a good day. When a team like Real can throw different looks at you, Roma is stuck in the 4-2-3-1. That, for me, was the most frustrating aspect going into the season, and is the most frustrating aspect going out. System is great, fabulous, wonderful, but it needs to be rotated every now and again.

That old boxing adage can still apply to so many sports: “Styles make fights”. Sometimes it’s just not about talent. Sometimes the counter methods just work. This is what needs to be changed; more than the level of talent, more than the salary cap, more than the ownership. Versatility within the system is nice, as evidenced by Giuly v Taddei or Cicinho v Panucci, but at the end of the day you need to be able to counter your downfalls. Roma could not do that. My greatest hope for this summer, even more so than any transfer target, is that Spal adopts a tactical alternative which can operate and change gears fluidly. I honestly believe that is a major key to a scudetto.

Two games kill me to this day from that list, however. One is Empoli. Roma beat them up and down the pitch like it was public slaughtering for most of the game, before Vannucchi got too much space and struck a wondergoal, and before Giovinco scored the luckiest goal of his career – now and through the end of his days it will stay the luckiest goal of his career. Roma had so many chances to close that game out, yet they were brutally inefficient in front of the net. Still can’t believe that was the same Mirko Vucinic who now could have a golden statue erected at Trigoria. The guy scores bullshit goals regularly these days, and back then he was missing bunnies against Empoli.

They had that game won; it was an easy 3 points in the bag. How Empoli managed a draw I’ll never understand. Never.

The second is the home game against Livorno. Mostly because of Doni’s absolutely criminal positioning on that free kick, giving one of the premier free kick takers these days in calcio the side of a barn to aim at. It’s the number one reasoning I can’t feel comfortable with Alex in net. For all his obvious feline talents, it’s the basic mental aspects of the game which fail him when needed most.

Worst of all, that game needed to be about Totti. When Francesco fell down taking that shot and Brozzi walked over to him on the ground, looking down before motioning immediately for a sub my stomach turned. Can’t say it was an obvious 6 month injury, but when a player goes down in that manner and is carted off the field immediately, you didn’t need to be a doctor to know the outlook was grim. That game should’ve held more, for Francesco and the news that was about to follow.

All in all it was a very good year. Milan. Madrid. Madrid. Udinese. Four games which I could watch over and over and over. Four glorious occasions. But what’s more is that all of this is something to really build on; and make no mistake about it, this is a building process which will continue to grow and progress. Spal:

“I must compliment my team on the way they worked this season. We have grown a great deal, have a project to continue and everyone did their duty.”

I don’t doubt for a second Spal has had one eye towards this year and another towards next at times during this campaign. This was certainly a project, more in the urban, undesired housing sense, when he rode in on his horse, saving the day a few years back, but now it is a great project and so much more. There will be better results to come and a brighter future for the Giallorossi. I’m prepared to say I hold absolutely no doubt in my mind or heart in saying that in the next two years, Roma will lift the scudetto deservedly. This club has always held something special off the pitch and in the stands; well now it’s on the pitch and giving notice to the world. As a team, as a system, they are still young. Their day will come.

For now, they have every right to be proud. If all was fair in love and calcio, we’d be still drenched in tears of joy, singing Grazie Roma to the hilltops and peppering the globe with an unforeseen slew of newborns named “Daniele, Francesco, Philippe, Alberto, Vucigol and The Grand Imperial Poobah”. Alas, not all is fair. Yet we can still sing Grazie Roma, because they deserve every bit of it, but perhaps saving our loudest voices for Mai Sola Mai.

I can honestly say no season in recent time has made me prouder to be a Roma fan. I can also say the same for next season, and the season after that, and the season after that.

As Roma goes, so do we. With an undying passion, bleeding yellow along with red, and the knowledge that we love the greatest club in the world. So Grazie Roma, for the good times we were lucky enough to experience and for the giallorosso dawn on the horizon. But also for the bad times, allowing us to realize that great sorrow comes only from great love. Grazie a thousand times over, for a club that is so much more. The whole is more than the sum of its trophies.

But for now…

…there’s still a game left to win. Time to show everyone who the best team in Italia really is.

FORZA ROMA

 The Roman Derby was Lazio’s most important game of the season. Francesco Totti even laid flowers in front of the Curva Nord, purely because he’s classy. Add to that the fact that Lazio’s European ambitions ended a long time ago and the death of Gabriele Sandri and you have all the ingredients necessary for a major upset. (Did you see Delio Rossi run after the winning goal? The emotions displayed on his face demonstrated just that)

Lazio stopped hovering above the relegation zone just recently and are now in an Intertotto-esque position in the table. This is the best they can hope for under Lotito’s management.

You can’t fight faith my friends. Roma were not outplayed, just that Lazio couldn’t afford to lose the derby this time out. Karma worked its magic and there was nothing la Magica could do to modify the script. At least we’re still fighting for European supremacy…

Chris will prolly have something on the game eventually (Once he crawls out of the foetal position we’ve all  been holding since Wednesday night)

Seeing I’m an eternal enthusiast, let’s talk about the future;

Mercato/Speculation time:

Doni seems to be on the verge of renewing his contract. Personally, it pisses me off that Roma have a Brazilian keeper. I know Doni came on the cheap but he isn’t exactly a world beater. A team like la magica has been working hard on all 3 fronts for the past 3 seasons now and we would like that to continue. A team Ambitions like Roma needs a keeper that can single-handedly win you a game once in a while. Unfortunately, Doni isn’t that keeper. That’s were Marco Amelia comes in once again. The Roman-bred keeper stated this week that: He would NEVER play for Lazio, NEVER! His blood runs giallo and rosso and has even offered Roma to pull a Damiano Tomassi style return at the end of his career! Cash in on the heart attack generator and bring in Marco now!

The Livorno Stopper has been magical all year and deserves some Champions League Football but please don’t let him got to England or Russia.

Ando Cazzo e il centravanti ?

I’ll just start taking for granted that Roma’s looking for a Centre Forward. It’ll be simpler if you do the same.

We know about the KJH and Mario Gomez links, The Amauri/Totti love fest and the Gila possibility (By his stock while it’s low!). All of Europe wants a piece of these strikers (ok, maybe not Gila) so Roma needs to prioritize its striking priorities

KJH is looking at Real Madrid, Mario Gomez is drawing interest form Milan as well, so basically the only rumour that has picked up some speed his the Gilardino one. It seems TGIP and Totti think they can convert the Gila into a bona fide born-again Calcio player.

I’m all for trying it out, if he comes cheap. But seeing Ancelotti pick Palloschi, Pato and Inzaghi before the Biellese bomber has surely caused Gila’s price to drop. Hell even Sampdoria are inquiring.

The new name that needs to be added to the Centavanti list is: Sevilla’s Luis Fabiano
The Brazilian Bomber’s claim to fame was the penultimate Copa America. Before moving to La Liga in 2005, Fabiano was drawing interest from Roma and Palermo, he finally chose Sevilla.

Luis Fabiano has scored 48 goals in 102 games in Spain and has 8 goals from 14 games when he’s wearing the VerdeOro. Fabiano’s fairly young, cheap and has only one year left on his contract, which makes him a realistic target. Not to mention that no one can throw a better looking bitch slap!

Centre Forward, Brazilian and affordable; what more can Roma ask for !

Marc Borriello a.k.a. the STD farm

Some echos of Marco Borriello are reverberating around Rome. I will reiterate what I have already said on the Italy page; Marco Borriello is the Fabio Quagliarella of the 2007/2008 season. Milan still owns half of the STD farm and his cartellino will probably make its way to le buste. Roma will be keeping a close eye on the situation as it unfolds.

The Young studs

Roma are seemingly keeping an eye on Tijani Belaid a 20 year old Tunisian part of Inter’s Vivaio. The kid is on loan at Slavia Prague and managed to score on his Champions League debut. I don’t know much about him, but let’s keep an eye out.

Speaking of players I know nothing about, Roma are testing out the ‘’new Kaka.’’ Fabrizio Messias (1990) has been training in Trigoria for the past week. He looks like Ronaldinho but he plays like Kaka(the player, not like shit), or so his agent says.

A decision should be made in about a week or so.

Outgoing:

TGIP, Aquilani and De Rossi are drawing interest all over Europe ! Thank You Captain Obvious!

How is this news? Who wouldn’t want them in their team? NEXT

Barcelona has singled out Amantino Mancini for next season. The Catalan club thinks Amantino would be a perfect addition to their Fantastic Four.

Amantino hasn’t signed yet; Sara Varone ! You need to work your Magic because this is starting to smell like Chivugate all over again…

Forza Ragazzi! Andiamo a prendere l’Europa intera !

Putting the summer of ‘06 aside, that was the best game I have seen in many years. I laughed, I cried, I smiled, I cowered, I bit my fingers off, I yelled too loudly in enclosed spaces, I rocked back and forth like Leo Mazzone for 90+ minutes, and I blacked out before Pirlo’s free kick in the 94th minute and totally missed the end. (Actually, I was covering my eyes, I thought it was going in – it was Pirlo, after all.)

What can you say, really? It was nearly everything one could hope from the Giallorossi. The first half was football on a cloud, precision movement, passes, running….everything but the finishing. It was largely a back and forth affair, but that first 45 was simply sublime. David Pizarro and Max Tonetto must have run about three marathons combined in the first 45 alone – with David’s stellar intro being greatly welcomed and Max continuing to look like a stud on a weekly basis (give an old man a week in between games – it’ll do wonders).

After the half there was a big letdown, and Milan really took the play to Doni. Clarence Seedorf was everything he should’ve been in the Champions League, and we have Cicinho to thank for taking three points instead of one for that goal line clearance (and who daresay Cici can’t defend, eh?). Kaka’s run was a whole bunch of disorganization (and credit to Milan for causing that disorganization) and whole lot of freakin’ luck for Oddo to actually put a serviceable ball into the middle of the box.

Then the Rossoneri were all over Roma like flies on shit Emerson, and I know what each and every person was thinking after that goal went in, too: “This game’s over, they’re going to collapse. This is what Roma does. Play the best football on earth, and then collapse.”

Not this year. Not this team.

Enter Luciano “Sex On A Chalkboard” Spalletti, who has earned every ounce of praise he’s ever received in the last three weeks alone, with two crucial, crucial substitutions.

Ludovic Giuly. As large as Oompa Loompas get, mon ami. Fantastic technique on the goal – probably learned it, oh I dunno, watching highlights or something. And the goal? The very definition of a Roman Clusterfuck.

Mirko Vucinic. What to say about Mirko Vucinic? How about this: If he needed a kidney, I’d gladly give him one of mine and then the other to put on ice – you know, just in case. After so many failed chances on sitters early in the season, he’s come through when it counts. Come through immeasurably when it counts, actually. Eight goals this year, here are the opponents:

Milan (2).
Dinamo Kiev; Champions League (2).
Real Madrid; Champions League.
Sporting Lisbon; Champions League.
Lazio; The Derby.
Parma (fluke).

Last year? Manchester United, Champions League.

And for four of those he was a sub. (ManYoo as well.)

That’s no coincidence. His performances otherwise have been fantastic, especially his late game appearance against Inter two weeks ago, another massive game. The very definition of a difference maker, and just simply a big game player. It may only be one season, but those goals and performances alone have earned him the tag “Legend in the Making”. Actually, you know what?

Legend in the Making.

If you can pull off those goals in those games, you’ve earned it, my friend. Here’s to many, many more years of the legendary Balkan Maradona.

(And I sincerely appear for ever doubting the comparisons between you and Zlatan.)

Flying beneath the radar is the all over the field performance from Il Capitano, who was not directly involved, but made so much happen over both halves. It’s hard to imagine what this game would have been like without him. A loss, surely.

And before we head onto the overly exuberant player ratings, watch Mirko’s goal one more time……

…..and then tell me Daniele De Rossi is not the best player in the world right now.

The highlights are here, and that insane corner kick situation is here.

Particulars

ROMA (4-2-3-1): Doni; Cicinho, Panucci, Juan, Tonetto; De Rossi, Pizarro (17′ st Giuly); Taddei (27′ st Aquilani), Perrotta, Mancini (11′ st Vucinic); Totti.
A disp.: Curci, Brighi, Ferrari e Antunes.

MILAN (4-3-2-1): Kalac; Oddo, Maldini, Kaladze, Favalli; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini (40′ st Gilardino); Kakà (42′ st Paloschi), Seedorf (27′ st Emerson); Pato.
A disp.: Fiori, Simic, Bonera e Brocchi.

Arbitro: Rizzoli di Bologna

Marcatori: 11′ st Kakà, 33′ st Giuly, 36′ st Vucinic

Note: Ammoniti: Gattuso, Pato, Favalli. Recupero 3′ pt e 5′ st. Spettatori 48.000, per un incasso di 812.147,00 euro circa. Calci d’angolo: 5-4 per la Roma. Tiri in porta 6-4 per il Milan. Possesso palla: Roma 49.6%-50.4% Milan.

Player Ratings

Doni: All I want to know is if he was drinking liquid Valium in that little brown bottle in the first half, because the man was the very definition of “nonchalant” for the rest of the game. Aliens could’ve anally probed him mid-game and I’m not sure he would’ve done anything but sat there and thought, “ooh, that tickles”. As long as they win, whatever gets it done. 10

Cicinho: Had an immensely tough task with The Quacker, who looked every bit of being 18 years old mentally, Seedorf and, on occasion, Kaka. They scored one goal straight down the middle. That’s enough for me. (Oh, and he saved the game.) 10

Old Man River: I swear, he and Maldini must have gotten a twofer at the fountain of youth pregame, because he looked like anything but an elderly right back playing in the middle. Floating all over the place, taking the ball up the field….he must’ve thought he was playing on the other side for the day. 10

Juan: This guy….again, confusing himself with a striker. I love it. 10

Tonetto: Max is going to need a third lung. The guy covered more ground than UPS on Saturday. Getting up, getting back, getting up, getting back…it eventually hurt him, but not enough. Ole Max has been huge part of this resurgence over the last month, let’s hope he’s got a couple more years of this left in those twigs. 10

Daniele De Rossi: Immense. Simply immense. Gattuso dressed in Armani laced out with diamonds and jewels. A 24 year old legend of indescribable qualities; and when he is done, without a doubt in my mind, the best Italian of his generation. I think they should hand out diapers when he plays – he’s just that good. No number can quantify Daniele De Rossi right now.

David Pizarro: I give David Pizarro a lot of schtick, so here goes…

That was awesome, fucking awesome. The first half he was everywhere, fighting for balls in Roma’s box, in Milan’s box, in the press box, in Rosella’s suite. Laying the ball on a string, directing a little bit of traffic. And yeah, he faded in the second half; but one, Milan really picked up, and two, all that running in the first half made his little legs tired. Those 45 minutes made this his best game of the season. 10, @#$%ing 10.

Taddei: I didn’t notice him until the 25th minute, really, and after that he was everywhere until he came off. Everywhere. 10

Perrotta: What a pass from Simone to Ludovicious. And it was nice to see him dropping back there when it was clear Roma was going to need to put something into the back of the net and get the lineup a bit more attack-oriented. Finishing or not, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man…Simone! 10

Mancini: Simply got beat to nearly every ball by Space Balls – not that he had a poor game. Had he scored that scissor we would’ve been talking about it for the rest of our lives. Off after 55, which means he’ll be fresh for the derby. Oh boy…..Amantino! Amantino! Amantino! 10

Il Capitano: The best we’ll ever know. 10

Mirko, Ludovic & Alberto: 3 subs and the goals start coming, all three playing at least some part in the goals. What a difference a bench makes. 10

The Grand Imperial Poobah: The best coach in the business. 10

Key Matchups

Cicinho v Favalli: I may be mistaken here but I’m pretty sure Favalli didn’t make it anywhere near the final third but a couple times, especially in the first half (probably because he’s still showin’ off his ass to his highway reststop buddies hanging in the nord). In fact, I’m not sure Favalli did anything, which makes Cicinho winner by default. Winner: Cicinho

Carletto v Carletto: Carlo seems to be taking a lot of crap in the Milan circles for taking off Clarence – easily Milan’s best player – and bringing on The Pussy Cat (that last part can be omitted). But Clarence was hurt recently and he may be hurt again. And his hand was really forced with the double Gila/12 year old substitution due to Kaka’s back injury. But still…Emerson? Come on – Carlo should’ve laced them up himself. Winner: Everyone but Milan.

Ricky Kaka v DDR: The Rickster did have a goal, but DDR kept him in check, and that foot race where DDR ran step for step with Kaka then took the ball off of him was everything that is right about the game. Kaka disappeared way too much, as he tends to do, so….get those t-shirts ready. Winner: DDR

The Frontline v That Backline: Paolo looked like he was pushing 20, not 40, but Kaladze was utter shite and that’s all that really matters. Roma probably should’ve had at least 1-2 in the first half alone, and Milan couldn’t hold them when it really mattered – including that Under 6 like scrum around the ball for Ludovic’s goal. Winner: Frontline

MOTM: The team picture. I lupi…all of them

And one last thing:

Before the Napoli game Aquilani, De Rossi, Mexes, Pizarro, and Mirko were all one yellow away from suspension. In the last two games, not one Giallorossi has been handed a card. It may just be coincidence, or poor refereeing, but I like to think this team has hit a much higher level of focus and determination, and that being “on form” is only the half of it. This is a different Roma.

Now bring on the burini………

Here’s a Pot-Pourri, a Melting pot, a ramassis of Mercato stuff :

Let’s get right in to this !

So it seems like la Roma is interested in half of La Viola ?

Gazzetta is reporting that Roma are interested in Fabio Liverani, Tomas Ujfalusi, GP Pazzini and Adrian Mutu.

Liverani :

Fabio Liverani is a Roman, self-hating Romanista and has recently declared how honoured he would be to grace the Red and goldish colours. However, Liverani was a LAZIALE ! That’s why it didn’t work out in the 1st place. Rolando Bianchi ”once was” a Roma target as well. Check this out !

I know Fabio Liverani was linked with Roma before signing in Purple ink. Spalletti likes Liverani’s non 5 foot 4, David Pizarro-ness . He would arrivee dirt cheap and would make for an acceptable 5-6th midfielder. But aren’t we supposed to be nurturing guys like Ahmed Barusso and Ricardo Faty ?

Nope!

Ujfalusi :

For free I wouldn’t mind. He’d have to be happy with a less than Ferrari-esque role and cost next to nothing and that’s only if Jeremy Mathieu doesn’t come by. Ujfalusi’s upside is that he can slot in pretty much anywhere on the defensive line.

Only extremely cheap and accepting a limited role a la Leandro Cufre, so basically no

Mutu:

FUCK! I hate the guy* but now that he’s injured all hell has broken loose. Rosella and Prade (the other DP) are probably preparing a bid as we speak.
*Maybe not as much as Chris though.

Pazzini: Ok so he scored 3 goals in Wembley stadium, hailed as Luca Toni’s replacement and likes to poke his eyes while celebrating goals. But common.! I’m guessing he would be too expensive anyways. Add that to the fact he ain’t no Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Speaking of KJH, Reportedly Daniele Baldini, Roman emissary extraordinaire went to Amsterdam recently, and it wasn’t only to enjoy the world class ganja, but also to start negotiations/talks with Ajax.

Alberto Faccini, a sort of Ernesto Bronzetti but for Holland, has confirmed that Roma are among 758 English teams in the hunt for the hunter’s services. Faccini seems to think Roma have a good chance nonetheless and has confirmed that there has been concrete contacts between Amsterdam and Rome. 20 Million Euros is the minimum bid to start negotiations.

KJH isn’t the only Ajax player on the Roma radar. It’s no secret that dreaded Urby Emanuelson has also received roman flowers from trigoria. The young, explosive Left Back is one of the players being considered as Tonetto’s replacement (not Vice-Tonetto, New and Improved Tonetto) The kid ‘s worth about 12 Million Euros but it’d be great to see him an Cicinho running up and down the flanks at blazing speed.

Cicinho to Man City ?

Ya okay ! and Claudio Lotito is going to purchase Roma any minute now. Did you see Cici (pronounced ; See-see (like the Texan version of Sissy but with a Portuguese/Spanish/Italian twist) kiss that jersey ? D’you see Bruno Conti ? )

His agent had reiterated his desire to stay in the Eternal city even before his wonderful display against Florence. The Real Madrid start is questionable, but the only reason he saw no pitch time at all was because of Juan’s contusion. Or else he would have been speeding threw the Madrid Flank.

Plus Spal said Cici never asked to leave, I’ll keep Cicinho in Roma myself if I have to.

Maybe this has something to do with Valeri Bojinov’s recent comments about wanting to play for Roma someday. Dude, you were once a Juventino!

What is this Amauri for Alessio Cerci, Stefano Okaka Chuka + 15 M$ Euros bogusness?

What are you freakin’ crazy? Okaka Chuka will be better than Amauri in less than 3 years! Even Rosella isn’t that stupid, even she can resist the fact that Amauri has been recently injured. No way in hell would Roma sacrifice money + the future. It’s either or Zampa.

Zamparini has been denying everything anyways saying how only Aquilani and Vucinic really interest him. I know the hype machine has been running hard on Amauri, I mean his agents deserves a Degree Honoris Causa just for getting the bidding this high already. Amauri’s good, enough so that even some members of the Italian media are wondering if he shouldn’t be selected for the Azzurri. But please, this guy hasn’t played a 50 games for Palermo that he’s already considered a Luca Toni 2.0 ? Let’s calm down here. Although seeing Totti alongside Amauri would be exciting, we already have more than enough Brazilians on the squad and I’d much prefer we go after Mario Gomez and his 23 years of age. (Please don’t crucify me but I’d prefer to see Gilardino over Amauri, purely as an Azzurri fan. I think Roma, Spalletti, DDR and Totti would work wonders for the ex-Parma player’s career. Albert’s a real Centravanti, we can’t deny he has talent and if Spal managed to turn around Perrotta’s career imagine what he could do with AG. Forza Italia!)

Hatem Ben Arfa ?

Speaking of French targets, It seems as though Roma have joined the race with Barcellona, Manchester United and Tottenham to secure the young French International’s services. Hatem Ben Arfa won’t come cheap and I think this is only Roma backing their Asses in the highly unlikely possibility of seeing Mancini leave. We know Lyon is more than just interested.

If all hell breaks loose in the contract negotiations between Roma and strong>Mancini, and I doubt it will because of…well… Sara Varone, Only at that time does the Ben Arfa situation become slightly more plausible. Altough Ben Arfa will be huge one day, just ask Inara

How about some defenders now?

Roma are scouting another young Frenchman ; Habib Bellaid. The 22 year old CB from Strasbourg has a contract that runs all the way to 2011, but that hasn’t stopped Roma’s interest. The French U21 player is makin’ about 400 000 a year in France, which’s exactly in Roma’s budget. Let’s hope ex-teammate Ricardo Faty can help broker the deal if ever it’s needed.

Maurizio Domizzi’s agent is saying that the Napoli stopper is ready for Roma

Domizzi’s agent, Danilo Caravello spoke to Romanews.eu recently;

Ci conferma le voci che vorrebbero Domizzi alla Roma nella prossima sessione di calciomercato?”Le ho sentite anch’io queste voci, speriamo possano concretizzarsi al più presto…”Il giocatore gradirebbe questa possibilità

“Senza ombra di dubbio, anche perchè Maurizio è romano. E’ cresciuto nel vivaio della Lazio, ma è romanista da sempre. Chiunque gradirebbe giocare in una squadra come la Roma”.Domizzi è pronto per una grande squadra?

“Sicuramente è un giocatore importante. E’ uno dei migliori difensori del campionato italiano. Secondo me ha dimostrato di essere un giocatore da Roma”.Qual’è la valutazione del giocatore?
“Per me siamo tra i quattro e i cinque milioni di euro”.

Free Translation:

Roma interested in Domizzi?

Yeah! I heard that and i hope we get it done as quickly as possible

Domizzi would be happy about this?

Of course! Without a shadow of a doubt my friend, Maurizio is a Roman. Ok so he played his youth soccer (very young) with Lazio. But Maurizio has always been a Roman Romanista at heart. He would love playing here

Domizzi’s ready for the big time ?

Of course, he’s an excellent defender , one of the best in Italy at the moment. For me, he has shown that he deserves to play for a big team

How much is he worth:

I think between 4 & 5 Million Euros

Domizzi: Now that’s what I’m talking about! Ciao Ciao Ferrari. I love Domizzi’s Grinta and think he would be an decent (if he comes cheap) Back up as CB and a good mentor for Andreolli,Freddi and the other kids. This guy’s a bulldog. He’s a Gennaro Gattuso dressed in torn jeans and a leather jacket, with a switch blade between his teeth

How much do you think those 2 romanian kids cost?

Browsing through the latest Roman Financial reports I found this :

Sebastian MLADEN and Alex Daniel PENA from the Scoala de Fotbal Gica Popescu Craiova cost exactly 516 Euros a piece. Now that’s what I call a good deal ! We also made 350 000 Euros with the sale of Alessandro Tulli to Lecce.

Finally, I’d like to say a big screw you to PriceWaterhousecoopers and all their French Oscar love, Roma will not be sold dickwats !

All of this wouldn’t have been possible withoutto Romanews.it and it’s almost stalkerish, yet extraordinaire AS Roma coverage. Thank You Romanews!

Bring on Madrid !!!

Roma start their crucial month of March with a game in Parma, If you don’t believe me ask Francesco! You’d think that after an emotionally charged encounter with Inter we’d have at least 6 days to get over it, But Serie A don’t play that way. They like to have their biggest games on Wednesdays, Rome derby included. Add that to the fact Roma’s travelling to Madrid in less than 4 days and you get… Turnover!?!?

What!? Spalletti knows what turnover is ?! (Hey Spal, Why not try a 4-4-1-1 while your at it ? Remember how Lippi used Totti as a supporting striker in Germany ? They went on to win the WC so maybe Lippi was onto something by playing Jesus in the same position he’d been playing for his whole life. Stick Vucinic up top and let him poach and hold the ball up !) Looks like Brighi and Esposito might make it into the line-up and OMR a.k.a The Panuchster a.k.a. 1940’s haircut will be moving to CB for this game. (If the Gazzetta isn’t lying) But don’t worry, there won’t be any Adrian Pit(z) sightings

This is why this game’s a dangerous one. Let’s remember Parma gave Inter a run for their money the last time they played. And if it wasn’t for bad refereeing (Yup!), The Parma Prosciutto Posse would have snatched a well deserved 3 points from that encounter. I have no idea why the Tardini outfit is hanging out with Lazio and Livorno at the bottom of the table. We need to watch out, for Parma’s a sleeping giant that we don’t want to wake up. They’ll be heading onto to the Olimpico’s pitch with confidence after coming down from a Midweek high after they beat Udinese 2 to Nil.

This is what Happened last time:

Squads :

Parma :
Bucci;
Coly, Falcone, M Rossi, P Castellini;
Dessena, Morrone, Cigarini, Pisanu;
Gasbarroni; Lucarelli
Note to David Pizarro : Luca Cigarini ; Watch and learn DP, watch and learn…

Want more news about Parma ? Go here

ROMA

Roma are without Teen heartthrob Philou Mexès. A dislocated shoulder means Marco (smart parents) Cassetti is out for about 20 days. Bad news for Marco, but that’s great news for Cicinho and his fans. I also do not think Spalletti will want to risk the easily contused legs of Juan a.k.a J-Smooth a.k.a. Chivu who?

Probable Starting Line-Up

Doni
CICINHO!, Panucci, Ferrari, Tonetto;
Brighi, Aquilani;
Esposito, Perrotta, Vucinic;
Totti

Who ?: Roma (2nd place, 52 points) v Parma (14th place, 25 points)
When ?: Saturday, 1st March 2008, kick-off 18:00
Where ?: Stadio Olimpico, Roma
Why? 1- Because Roberto Mancini’s an untalented tactician. 2- Because we can’t play Madrid just yet
Streams : Here and Here

Prediction : 3-1 Roma

Vucinic will get a brace and Cicinho will blast one in from afar. Lucarelli will head in a useless goal for the Parma Parmigiano/Prosciutto Posse.

Forza Ragazzi!

Inter – Roma

La Liga’s big clashes manage to catch my eye but I can’t seem to get excited about the Ping Pong-ish style of The Premiership. (And don’t get me started on the damn USL league!) I, for one, love Calcio unconditionally. Unfortunately, Serie A’s reputation has been taking a bruising in recent years. Even the amazing WC 2006 win seems to have been overshadowed by different controversies;

Marco Materazzi’s headbutt reception means the French Fans will never admit to losing cleanly.

Then Calciopoli happened; Means pretty much everybody thinks Serie A is the only corrupt league in the world and that it’s not worth watching ”mafia” fixed games. Serie A witnessed a massive exodus of its stars and it’s membership in the Euro Big 3 club was being reconsidered by almost everybody outside the boot.

Why can’t Calcio/Italian Football get the love it deserves?

Not only that, Inter has been ”monopolizing” Serie A standings for the last 2 years. Causing Calcio to look like if there was only 1 horse in the Scudetto race. Thus, making Serie A a dull league.

I want to see this change. Serie A doesn’t deserve all of the dirty looks it has been getting by its European colleagues over the last few years. If being World Champs isn’t enough, Calcio needs something good…amazing.

How do we fix this? How can Serie A be able to bask in all of its glory once again? And Above all, WTF does this have to do with Roma you say?

With a crazy foto finish Scudetto race; and this exactly where Roma comes in. Serie A needs a battle to the end, a neck-and-neck,close contest type of thing. It could happen. And if Serie A’s fixed WWE style like some people might want to think, then this would be a perfect season ending Script/Scenario. Inter being the heel of course (I’m am so sorry for the wrestling metaphor).

Worst case scenario : Inter wins the Scudetto and no one lives happily ever after

Best case scenario : Inter loses to Roma making it a 6 point gap. Then Inter lose to Milan and/or Juve. They lose to Palermo and/or Fiorentina and draw Parma on the last matchday. Thus, seeing Roma win a well-deserved Scudetto

Inter need to win best supporting actor in Serie A this year. And all this will start with a Roma win on Wednesday.It’s time for Inter to stop hogging the top spot and step aside and let Roma shine in the Serie A Spotlight before winning the Champions League next year as well. Thus, consecrating itself as a legendary European club, as it should be

Match :

To say ; The outcome of this game will affect the Scudetto race is an understatement. This is the Big one;

TGIP’s saying this is the Match of truth ; ” The match against Inter can be described as the `match of truth,’ because if we beat them we confirm we are the team that has caused them most hassle in the last two years, and we reduce the gap at the top of the championship,”

Spalletti then added: “Inter have more of a physical presence, and can change the course of a match with one single action. We on the other hand play more as a team, and we will be looking to use our speed to our advantage.”

As for Inter, Roberto Mancini’s saying that a draw would suit his team just fine: No shit Sherlock! We know that this won’t be a cakewalk but Inter can’t think they’ll be facing a demoralized 10 man Roma team this time out as long as LP remembers Aqui is better than DP. Yippie!

Squads :

Inter

1 Abbondanzieri, Roberto Carlos
23 Ustari, Oscar

2 Ayala, Roberto
21 Burdisso, Nicolás
7 Samuel, Walter
17 Cufré, Leandro
6 Heinze, Gabriel
15 Milito, Gabriel

16 Aimar, Pablo César
5 Cambiasso, Esteban
22 González, Luis
8 Mascherano, Javier
19 Messi, Lionel
10 Riquelme, Juan Román
13 Scaloni, Lionel
3 Sorín, Juan Pablo

9 Crespo, Hernán
20 Cruz, Julio Ricardo
14 Palacio, Rodrigo
18 Rodriguez, Maxi
7 Saviola, Javier Pedro
11 Tévez, Carlos Alberto

Form (D W W W D)

Swedish striking sensation Zlatan Ibrahimovic will again miss out with a knee problem. Mario Balotelli is called up has been called up because Julio Cruz is out as well. South American allstars Cordoba and Samuel join Dacourt and Cesar on the list of long lasting, tough acting injuries, proudly presented to you by Tinactin. That means we’ll probably get to see Mean Marco Materazzi, Tyson Rivas and Crystal Chivu. For their part, Luis Jimenez and Dejan Stankovic are returning to the squad.

If you want to hear more stuff about Inter, you’re on the wrong page!

Inter (4-3-1-2)

Julio Cesar;
Maicon, Burdisso, Materazzi, Chivu;
Zanetti,Vieira, Cambiasso, Stankovic;
Suazo, Crespo

This is what happened last time :

Roma

Form (W L W L W)

Let’s not make this more sequential that it already is…

4 JUAN SILVEIRA DOS SANTOS
5 PHILIPPE MEXES
7 DAVID MARCELO CORTES PIZARRO
8 ALBERTO AQUILANI
9 MIRKO VUCINIC
10 FRANCESCO TOTTI
11 RODRIGO FERRANTE TADDEI
14 LUDOVIC GIULY
15 VITORINO GABRIEL PACHECO ANTUNES
16 DANIELE DE ROSSI
18 MAURO ESPOSITO
20 SIMONE PERROTTA
21 MATTEO FERRARI
22 MAX TONETTO
25 CARLO ZOTTI
26 ADRIAN FLORIN PIT
27 JULIO SERGIO BERTAGNOLI
30 MANCINI ALESSANDRO FAIOLHE AMANTINO
32 DONIEBER ALEXANDER MARANGON (DONI)
33 MATTEO BRIGHI
77 MARCO CASSETTI

Juan is out while Cicinho’s suspended. The only question Mark is Amantino’s fitness. Miss. Varone, can you please layoff Mancini until Thursday? That would be much appreciated

Roma (4-2-3-1):
Doni;
Panucci, Ferrari, Mexes, Cassetti;
Aquilani, His DDRness
Taddei; Perrotta, Vucinic
Totti

Who ?: Inter Milan (1st place, 60 points) v Roma (2nd place, 51 points)
When ?: Wednesday, 27th February 2008, kick-off 20:30
Where ?: San Siro, Milan
Why ? To end Inter’s supposed Serie A Supremacy.
Streaming : Here or Here
PEOPLE AT WORK : Fuckin’ Corporate FireWalls! You might want to try this. It usually shows the Big Games…

Categorical Matchups :

Inter vs Roma ; It doesn’t get any more categorical than this.

Final Analysis:

Don’t ask me to analyze this game. I can’t. I’m too freakin’ stoked about this encounter. I’m trying to put some thoughts together but Carlo Zampa’s voice is stuck in my head and won’t stop screaming Forza Ragazzi! FORZAAA!

It doesn’t matter who’s on the pitch, Roma will want to show Europe from what Pasta they’re made from. Inter has crazy money…I mean talent. All of their players are international stars, Chivu being the exception that confirms the rule of course. DDR and Totti can stand up to anybody on that field tomorrow. Roma has a united squad that can stand up to the un-homogenous, individually talented being that is Arg-Inter ! Not only does Roma need to win to keep the title hopes alive. They need to win in honour Calcio’s beauty.

Prediction :

3-1 Roma

Er Pupone hasn’t scored since Week 18 against Atalanta. Don’t foget the Golden Boy loves to score at the San Siro whatever colours the stripes he’s striking against are. Mr. Totti deserves a brace. It’s pallonetto time bitches! Who cares if Jimenez gets the only Inter goal ? DDR will get the other with one of his patented bombs

Forza Ragazzi ! Andiamo a prenderla! ‘sta partita determinanta è nostra ! Forza Roma !!!!!!!

This is what happens when Cicinho starts !

Roma managed to fend off Prandelli’s purple posse to gain some ground in the (re?)Opened Scudetto race. Oprah promised us a Soaring and Joyful event and she delivered. She’ll now be promoting the upcoming book so Stay tuned for book signings in your area!

On with the game :

Roma controlled most of the possession in the 1st half. Like usual, the finishing was lacking. But they must have held at least 75% in the 1st half. Fiorentina were great at defending spaces and were well compacted in defense. Tried to restrain the Roman Clusterfuck as best as they could. They resisted well the whole 1st half. Even Mutu and Vieri were helping out by coming back to help out the D.

Like Greece, circa June 2004, Fiorentina looked dangerous every time they attacked.Even without much possession they managed to pull many occasions of out their Asses. Thank God Doni was on great form, he even managed to indirectly cause Mutu to leave the match. Cicinho got his first Serie A goal on beautiful team effort. This was an excellent game; the 1-0 scoreline doesn’t do justice to the beauty of this Serie A outing. Fiorentina and Roma gave us a beautiful display of what I like to call Serie A at it’s best.

IL TABELLINO

ROMA–FIORENTINA 1-0

ESPULSI: Cicinho (R)

Highlights:

Dr. Phil’s Categorical Matchups. (Tomorrow : Twins on Heroin !!! )

Tired Legs vs Contused Legs:

Dr Phil fucked up on this one! This game was excellently exciting. Not Rollercoaster-ish a la Parma- Torino but That was Some Sexy Serie A Action!

Adrian Mutu vs the Giallorossi Defense:

Doni took him out early on so he didn’t get to do must damage. This pisses me off a little because I’m sure that once Pradè saw the knee injury, he got on the phone with Pantaloon Corvino right away.

Luciano Spalletti vs Cesare Prandelli :

Spalletti read the game well this time with some smart defensive substitutions. I love the fact that he know you can’t have more than 2 players under 4 feet on the pitch at the same time!
Like the Italians like to say: Ha ben gestito il risultato. He managed the result well. ! Spalletti gets all 3 point but Prandelli wins this matchup, purely based on non -calcio factors!

Cesare Prandelli: This guy takes La Viola seriously! His outfit is the coolest I have seen on a Serie A bench. Silvio Baldini rocks a mean Jeans and ugly shirt but I mean the Shiny Purple almost vinyl/Leather coat with the pimped out purple turtleneck! It doesn’t get any better than that! The only reason he (almost?) pulls it off is because he looks like a Movie star from the 50’s. If Prandelli starts smoking cigars a la Lippi on the sidelines with a nice purple hat like this one (preferably ornamented by a feather); he’ll be officially legendary!

David Pizarro vs Chris:

Playing higher up DP has the chance to do less damage. 1 decent outside footed cross in the closing minutes other than that? Aquilani didn’t get himself into life threatening situations and Pizarro didn’t score in a derby yet…

What a beautiful thing is it to see DDR and Aquilani together!

Stars of the Match

His DDRness:

I will, as of now, begin taking Daniele De Rossi’s amazing displays for granted. DDR is; indispensable. What I’m about to say might offend and repulse some of you, and you might not see me in the same way after. In my defense I’d like to say 2 things 1st.

1. I’m more of a fan of the dirty unrecognised defensive work. As much as I like Totti-esque attacking displays; The various Gattusos, Cannavaros, Zambrottas and DDR’s of this world obtain and deserve all of my respect. I think spectacular defensive displays deserve the same media Hype attackers get.

2. Totti is the Nicola Tesla of Calcio, a Roman Gladiator, blessed by the God of Mars and now is a legendary Roman god himself. His feet look like they’re possessed by Stephen Hawking’s brain.

I will still go on and say this; as of 2008, Danielino has surpassed Francesco Totti in my giallorossi heart. Those Spaniards said it best: DDR is Gattuso dressed in Armani.

Cicinho:

even tough he took a stupid 2nd yellow at the end so he won’t be facing Inter. Cicinho is a star. He was at the same spot as Totti and Giuly on the goal. The guy is crazy fast, running back or running up the pitch. I think that Spalletti doesn’t want to see Giuly, Pizarro and Cicinho on the pitch at the same time. So more Aquilani for Pizarro means more Cicinho. I irrationally admire the mini Brazilian WingBack (he’s not exactly what I call a Defensive RB). His supposed defensive shortcomings are overcompensated
with what he brings to the offence.

Minchia ! Cicinho was all the way on the left side of the 5-yard box and beat Totti and Giuly to the ball to score. Grande Cicero!

Amazing shots from la distanza like in the 37th minute! Of all the times he could have scored today it had to be the ugly one. Starting with Doni ; 8 untouched passes by the Viola before CiCi’s goal. Stupid sending off that’ll see him miss the Inter clash, but he would have probably been benched anyhow. His celebration alone; (Conti and all)- plus the fact that he desperately needed and rightfully deserved this goal earns him my Man of the Match not called DDR.

il Capitano a.k.a. The Golden Boy a.k.a. The guy who gets to sleep with Ilary Blasi :

How much knocking and bruising does Totti take week in and week out? I mean it’s crazy, there’s always a minimum of 2 guys on him at all times and one of them is always trying to twist his nipples.

Fortunately, Il Re Totti is looking better and better. He looks officially fully recuperated from his recent injury woes and The Fiorentina game helped him gain the right timing back. Bring on The Black and Blue. Hoping he pulls another Pallonetto out of his golden ass. Message to Totti : Grow your hair back you non-Hippie!

Disorganised thoughts:

-Taddei and Cicinho looked like they were joined at the hip for the whole time they were on the pitch together. Both getting up on offense and on defense. Playing those 2 together looks like you have 2 RW when we hold possession and 2 RB when Fiorentina was countering.

-Vucinic not only needs to learn how to finish but he needs to get a cross in the box without seeing it blocked! I know it’s not his natural position and you can’t expect Vuci to play like Mancini. He needs to be centered more. He can hold the ball up better than Giuly ( La fourmis atomique was on the end of every long ball!). Frey gets a lot of credit once again, However, Vucigol needs to work on his freaking positioning, watch it with the Offsides!

-Ferrari can’t defend C. Vieri to save his life. Technically, Matteo is the one who cost us 2 points last time we played Prandelli’s purple people.

He was trying to do too much in the 1st half controlling the ball and all but Ferrari pisses me off. He has talent, he has the Size and Skill but he’s not at that level, he’s not elite. He needs to be at this point in his career, for himself se no; he needs to kiss his Azzurri hopes good bye

-The young Kukuzzamanovic looked good. La viola know how to recruit the youngen.

- I’m pretty sure Ted knows who we are now !

-Saying Papa Waigo rapidly is very pleasant! Plus if you say it 3 times I front of the mirror, he appears with Candy in his hands!

Grazie Ragazzi!

Thanks to Antonio ”Talentino” Cassano we’re now 9 Points back. That’s 3 losses for Inter. So let’s give them their 1st one on Wednesday. Now if only someone can remind Lulu Giuly to keep his hands and arms in the vehicle at all times…